Is this truck worth giving to my son

HEIDI.DEHNCKE

MEMBER
1998 TOYOTA TACOMA
2WD
AUTOMATIC
190,000 MILES

Hi,

The only real problem I have had was when the front axles each broke on separate occasions, after sixteen years of wear. They were fixed a few years back. Is there any reason to think they would break again in the near future? Also, is there any reason to think the back axles will have the same problem? (But, have not yet).

Finally, here is the real question. The engine runs fine in the pickup and other then the axles all is good. Because my mother is giving me a newer car to use my son is interested in having the pickup. Should I be concerned that I am giving him a problem (with its history and mileage) rather than a car that would last at least a few years. I do not want to give him something that at this point (being twenty years old and having 190,000 miles, and the worries about the axles on the wheels) that would be nothing but a problem for a young man. Should I give him the car? Or, would he be better off buying a newer used vehicle. That is the ultimate question.

I appreciate your help.

Best,
Heidi

1 Reply

DANNY L

MECHANIC
5,648 POSTS

Hello, I am Danny.

I have worked at many different repair shops in my twenty nine year automotive career so far and have seen many vehicles with high mileage still in service! An airport shuttle I worked at had Ford vans and flipped the odometers over after hitting one million miles and still having original engine/transmission. As long as routine maintenance is performed any vehicle can last a long time. As far as your axles breaking that could have just been a fluke or just the mileage got to it. I am sure your truck has many miles left in it. Hope this helps and feel free to ask any further questions if needed. Thanks for using 2CarPros.
Danny-